Mamaroneck-Larchmont Council of PTAs

2012-2013 Budget and Bond Fact Summary

En Español

It's been a busy spring! Our Superintendent and School Board have had many discussions about the proposed health and safety bond and the 2012-2013 school budget. The community will vote on both on Tuesday, May 15th at local elementary schools between the hours of 7am and 9pm. Here's a brief summary of where things stand. For more information, see the Mamaroneck School District Bond/Budget pages on the District website.

First, the proposed budget:

What's in the budget? The proposed budget reflects the goal of preserving the quality and breadth of the educational experience at our schools. Program highlights include:

• Maintenance of existing class size guidelines and programs.
• Addition of a psychologist at Mamaroneck High School (MHS) to support a new special education program, and 3 teachers for state-mandated Academic Intervention Services (AIS) as a result of a re-designed AIS program and increased case load.
• Maintenance of the Super Team structure at Hommocks until fall of 2013-2014. Regents Earth Science and Math positions will be expanded to ensure consistent teacher availability for after-school help, and English and Social Studies teachers will offer additional hours at "peak" times (midterms, etc.). These staffing adjustments have no budgetary impact as they are offset by scheduling efficiency at MHS, allowing for reduction of a Physical Education teaching position through attrition.
• Restructuring of Student Support Services administration to include one Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services, with one Special Education director. A separate Director of Personnel will be hired. There will be no budgetary impact as a result of this restructuring.
• Maintenance of existing levels of professional development for teachers.
• Expansion of technology at elementary and secondary levels, including installment of wireless access on every campus, creation of a Director of Technology position, and addition of a 0.2 teaching position to support distance learning program at MHS.
• Implementation of state-mandated Response to Intervention (RTI) plan.
• Alignment of district curriculum to Common Core Standards (as required by state law).
• Continued exclusion of funding for 7 athletic teams cut from the budget 2 years ago. Reinstatement of these teams requires an additional $90,000 in private donations by August 1, 2012.

How have costs been cut/efficiencies implemented?

• Full transportation outsourcing. This reflects an estimated $819,000 net savings and includes a staff reduction of 23 part-time bus drivers and 12 part-time bus monitors. This plan also anticipates long-term savings because the District will not need to replace and maintain its aging bus fleet. The District will maintain one in-district dispatcher and a mechanic and will retain control over route design, supervision of driver safety practices, and response to complaints. Some of the bus monitors may be reassigned as District teacher aides based upon seniority; some bus drivers may have the opportunity to work with the bus company that will handle the District's routes.
• Centralization of school registration and attendance reporting.
• Creation of network printing and clerical support centers at MHS (reduction of 5 clerical positions and 2 computer technicians, along with the creation of a Director of Technology position).
• Adjustment of schedules to maximize teaching staff.
• Negotiation of lower health insurance rates for one year.
• Energy costs savings due to capital improvements at Hommocks and Central under prior bond.
• Refinancing of existing debt (projected long-term savings of $800,000).
• Completion of prior capital projects under budget, saving approximately $1 million, which will be used to reduce future debt service payments.

What are the numbers?

• Total Budget Amount: $124 million ($124,295,897 to be more precise).
• Budget-to-Budget: a decrease of 0.82% (or $1,030,074).
• Tax Levy Increase: 1.08%, well under the 2.53% tax levy cap allowed by law (reserves and/or fund balance in the amount of approximately $4.8 million were applied to minimize the tax levy increase).
• Estimated Tax Rate Increase: 2.43% (due to falling tax assessments).
• Estimated Annual Tax Dollar Increase: $371.74 (on next year's tax bill for the average taxpayer whose home has an assessed valuation of $20,000).

What happens if the community doesn't support the budget?

• Two failed votes would require that the tax levy -- the amount of money that the District seeks from the tax payers -- be reduced to the 2011-2012 level.
• This would require the school board and administration to make $1.2 million of additional reductions, most likely to include the elimination of approximately 11 teaching positions, resulting in increased class size and/or elimination of programs.

Next, the proposed bond:

What's the bond all about?

• The Board has resolved that the community authorize a bond for $9.5 million to pay for high priority work necessary to maintain the safety and function of school facilities. This represents the most urgent work identified in the initial $45 million of identified projects pursuant to state-mandated five-year capital plan.
• The work includes plumbing, electrical and structural repairs at Chatsworth, Murray, MAS and MHS. (Extensive work was done at Central School and Hommocks under the last bond.)

How much will the bond cost taxpayers?

• The bond will not have a direct impact until the 2014-2015 school year, when the average homeowner (with property tax valuation of $20,000) will pay approximately $7.50 more per year for debt service.

What happens if the bond resolution fails?

• Priority work identified will have to be completed on an emergency repair basis, which generally costs more. For example, repairs to the Murray retaining wall were part of a bond that the community did not approve; the wall has now further deteriorated and must be replaced (one of the items in the current bond).

What happens next?

Have you registered to vote?

• The last day to register (in person in the District Clerk's Office) is Thursday, May 10 by 4pm. For more information, contact the District Clerk at 220-3007.

Do you need an absentee ballot?

• The last opportunity to obtain an absentee ballot, if it is to be mailed to the voter, is May 8 by 4pm.
• The last opportunity to obtain an absentee ballot, if it is to be picked up in person at the District Clerk's Office, is May 14 by 4pm.
• Absentee ballots are due in the District Clerk's Office by 5pm on Tuesday, May 15.

For more information about voting, or the bond or budget, see the Mamaroneck Schools District website

PT Council Mission:

PT Council is the coordinating organization of the seven Parent Teacher Association (PTA) units of the Mamaroneck Union Free School District: Mamaroneck High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), Hommocks School PTA, Central School PTA, Chatsworth Avenue School PTA, Mamaroneck Avenue School PTA, Murray Avenue School PTA and Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA).

The PT Council provides workshops, leadership development, information, and programs; coordinates programs and projects of member units; and works to promote parent-teacher partnerships in the school district and wider community.

PT Council and all Mamaroneck School District PTA units observe the mission of The New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc. (NYS PTA) recognizing that every child deserves excellence in education and in quality of life. NYS PTA maintains commitment and service to all children and to its diverse membership through increased parent and community awareness, advocacy, education, and involvement.